The "From The Pages Of..." Comics Universe RPG

[RGDurant]

"And I thought I've seen it all."

Darkman saw the two figures below part ways after watching their conversation from a fire escape. One of them was a masked man in a trenchcoat he reconized as the vigilante Rorschach from the papers. The other he had no idea, but he looked strange, like a alien or something.

He watched the strange looking one climb down into the sewer, but he saw Rorschach head down a nearby alleyway. Darkman climbed up on the roof and followed after the vigilante, leaping between the building gaps in pursuit.

 

[Carnage27]

I'm halfway home when I hear a scream come from a grate to my left. I rush underneath it and hear a mugging in progress.

"You don't know what kind of mistake you're making. I'm on TV. You guys will be caught for sure!" a female voice says.

Oh man! It's the reporter chick!

"We'll just see about that, sweet cheeks."

Before the mugger can act, I explode out of the grate and send him flying. Hs skull makes a sickening thud as it crashes into a nearby dumpster.

In a flash two more thugs in leather jackets sloppily attack me. They have no skill what so ever, and in seconds they are in the same shape as their friend.

I turn and face the reporter, who has a look of immense fear on her face, "Y-y-y-ou. It's you. The turtleman."

"Gee, what gave that away," I respond. "You've got a lot of nerve reporting we killed the police commissioner. I don't know if you've noticed, but we like to help."

She looks down, obviously embarrassed, "I didn't want to report the story that way. My boss pretty much shoved it down my throat. I'm more intrigued with the recent rise in crime."

"If what I've heard is correct," she says as she brushes herself off, "it's similar to a crime wave that happened a few decades ago committed by a ninja clan."

"The Foot," I say with a high level of disdain in my voice.

"Yes! You know about them?"

"I know they are incredibly dangerous, and most people who cross them end up dead," I respond as I head back into the sewer. "Be careful if you stay on this course. Something bad is happening in this city, and I think it's about to get worse."

"Wait! Before you go...what is you name?"

"Leonardo."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Leonardo. I'm April. Will I see you again?"

I chuckle a bit, "Depends on how often you get mugged."

*******

I finish telling Master Splinter, Don, and Mikey about my night, and lean back in a recliner.

"You have done well, my son. Rorschach will be a powerful alley in the coming struggles, and saving the reporter will give us help with the public."

"Thank, Master Splinter."

Mikey raises his hand like he's got a question in school, and Splinter merely gives him a look.

"Oh, hehe. I was just wondering what five of us were going to do against an army of bad guys?"

At that moment, Raph enters the lair, "Have you finished your task, Raphael?"

He bows, "Yes, master. The tunnel wasn't hard to find. I left a messege for him just like you asked."

"Left a messege for who?"

"Nite Owl."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

​

The ink-blot clad vigilante stops in his tracks and turns.

"Whoever's there. Come out now. Promise not to make death too painful." He says as he gets ready to strike.​

 

[RGDurant]

THUD!!!

Darkman landed hard on his feet in front of Rorschach, having jump off the fire escape. He placed his fedora hat back on his head, the shadow of the brim hiding most of his bandaged face.

"Good evening Rorschach."

He wasn't too worried about the vigilante's threat, he couldn't feel pain anyway.

 

[Blacklight]

As I expected the minute the Omnitrix had transformed me into Graymatter, things had gone exactly as I predicted. Bad. VERY bad. The robbers managed to get away, and before they ran away, they managed to... Ugh I don't even wanna say what had happened. THAT'S how bad it was. Although the ride on the Rustbucket afterwards was just as bad, if not worse...

"Wow, Ben... That couldn't have been anymore of a disaster if you tried..."

"What do you expect, Gwen? The stupid watch gave me Graymatter for crying out loud!"

"Well, for one thing, you could've used Graymatter's brain-power. Something of which you are really lacking..."

"Whatever, Gwen... Grandpa! Where are we heading next?"

"Calm down, Ben. We're heading to Barrow, Alaska."

"Alaska!? But it's cold, there!"

"Well I hope you packed your coats then..."

"Why Alaska anyways? Is it some sort of super-secret Plumber stuff I'm not allowed to know about?"

"As a matter of fact, Ben? Yes."

"Awww... but Grandpa!"

"No 'buts', Ben. Now go sit down. We'll be arriving there in a few hours..."

Great. Just great. Alaska? How boring... I mean, all there is there is just snow, ice and more snow. No bad guys, no action... Nothing. Just snow...

 

[RGDurant]

In an underground facility outside of New York City, three men in white lab coats examined results from testing on their charts. They had been working non-stop night and day, feverish in their scientific pursuits.

The door open and a dead quiet filled the room as the scientist's employer stepped in.

"Any progess gentlemen?"

"Yes Mr. Durant." the head scientist said, he wiped his balding head and approached his very intimdating boss. "We have taken various samples from the subject and we believe we isolated the genetic sequence that allows for it's unique regeneration."

Durant gave a slight smile that made the hairs on the back of the scientist's neck stand rigid, "Excellent, and I trust you've began with the project at hand?".

The head scientist gulped, "Well Mr. Durant, you must understand, a fully developed clone will take time, much more than we had hoped, even with the tissue we have to work with."

"Then I hope you have another suggestion, I did set a deadline."

Durant was growing impatient, never a good thing.

"Yes sir, I suggest while growing the clone, we can develop a serum from the resources we have now."

"A serum?"

"Yes, a mutagen actually. We could inject a participant with this serum, and they would develop similar levels of strength and regenitive abilities as the subjects."

"Similar or exactly the same?"

"No sir, it would not replicate perfectly, but in due time, we would have both the mutagen and the cloning project, we will be able to keep your deadline, and in the longrun, be more lucretive."

Durant thought a minute, then nodded in agreement. "Very well Doctor, proceed with both projects"
."
The scientist breathed a sigh of relief, Durant was leaving but he stopped and turned.

"One more thing, I want to see the subject."

"Yes sir."

The head scientist pressed a button on the wall and the lights in the adjacent chamber lit up. Durant stepped forward and looked at the subject behind the plate glass window.

Jason Voorhees was bound to a metal table with restraints that could hold a fully grown elephant. His head lulled from side to side, he was heavily sedated via an IV drip. He tried to move, to break his chains, but with no use. He stared at the glass, eyes full of venomous hate under his hockey mask.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

THUD!!!

Darkman landed hard on his feet in front of Rorschach, having jump off the fire escape. He placed his fedora hat back on his head, the shadow of the brim hiding most of his bandaged face.

"Good evening Rorschach."

He wasn't too worried about the vigilante's threat, he couldn't feel pain anyway.

Rorschach's mask shifts as he looks the man up and down.

"Nice outfit. What do I owe pleasure?"

He starts to slowly work his hands into his pocket, reaching for the grappling gun Nite-Owl gave him all those years ago.

 

[absonic93]

Senator Nathan Petrelli. He certainly wasn't what Tracy expected.

Tracy had flew into Washington D.C. two days ago to meet the Junior Senator from New York. Apparently he had come to Capital Hill to meet with the president. She'd called him up, scheduled a meeting, and met with him.

Tracy found it easy to talk with him. He was a very smooth-talker, but of course Tracy wouldn't be so easily taken in. The more they talked though, the more Tracy admired Nathan.

He'd come to D.C. to talk to the president about the meta human threat.

Tracy expressed her opinions as well, sparking interesting discussion while knowing deep in the back of her mind that she was a hypocrite.

After all that had happened in the past week, Tracy had no time to reflect upon her new life. She loved her powers - the feeling she had when she used them.

She felt superior. She felt strong. She was different. She could freeze someone until they shattered into a million pieces, leaving no trace but chunks of frozen body.

Maybe it was the loneliness she'd been feeling. Or maybe more time had passed than she thought since she'd been with the governor.

When Tracy Strauss awoke the next morning she found Senator Nathan Petrelli beside her on the bed.

 

[RGDurant]

Rorschach's mask shifts as he looks the man up and down.

"Nice outfit. What do I owe pleasure?"

He starts to slowly work his hands into his pocket, reaching for the grappling gun Nite-Owl gave him all those years ago.

"Call me Darkman."

Darkman noticed Rorschach reaching into his coat, to which he placed one of his hands into his pockets, his fingers touching one of his vials of acid.

"I've read about you in the papers."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Call me Darkman."

Darkman noticed Rorschach reaching into his coat, to which he placed one of his hands into his pockets, his fingers touching one of his vials of acid.

"I've read about you in the papers."

"Like wise." The vigilante says as he catches a glimpse at the man's face, or what's left of it.

"What's wrong with face? Damage it doing wicked things? I work alone." He says as he turns around and starts walking away from Darkman.

 

[RGDurant]

"Like wise." The vigilante says as he catches a glimpse at the man's face, or what's left of it.

"What's wrong with face? Damage it doing wicked things? I work alone." He says as he turns around and starts walking away from Darkman.

"I got blown up by criminals looking for a document in my lab, they tried to burn me to cover their tracks."

Darkman followed after Rorschach.

"You work alone huh? What was the deal with that big fellow from the sewer you were talking to, that seemed halfway friendly."

 

[Byrd Man]

"I got blown up by criminals looking for a document in my lab, they tried to burn me to cover their tracks."

Darkman followed after Rorschach.

"You work alone huh? What was the deal with that big fellow from the sewer you were talking to, that seemed halfway friendly."

"That was different. I go back with turtle's master. Back before I was Rorschach." Rorschach stops, Darkman almost runs into ink-blot faced vigilante.

"On Friday night, a police commissioner was killed. The murder was blamed on me. War is coming. Someone is trying to put the masks out of commission again. So we can't put a stop to war."

 

[RGDurant]

"That was different. I go back with turtle's master. Back before I was Rorschach." Rorschach stops, Darkman almost runs into ink-blot faced vigilante.

"On Friday night, a police commissioner was killed. The murder was blamed on me. War is coming. Someone is trying to put the masks out of commission again. So we can't put a stop to war."

Darkman stepped back from Rorschach, his smell making his eyes water.

"Hmm, that would quite a challenge for them, are they just going to ride around and pick off everyone wearing mask on the streets?"

Darkman paced around, looking about the alleyway for eavesdroppers.

"Doesn't matter to me, I have many masks, yours is distinctive, mine are quite varied, I could be anyone I want to."

 

[Byrd Man]

Darkman paced around, looking about the alleyway for eavesdroppers.

"Doesn't matter to me, I have many masks, yours is distinctive, mine are quite varied, I could be anyone I want to."

"Then why follow me like dog?" He says.

"Purge and Keene Act forced almost all masks into hiding. I remain active and mentally well. One of the few. Now, someone is planning to start back up. Know who #1 target is. Me."

He turns around and starts walking away from Darkman again.

"If you want to help. Follow. There is information to be found. And wicked to be punished."

 

[RGDurant]

"Then why follow me like dog?" He says.

"Purge and Keene Act forced almost all masks into hiding. I remain active and mentally well. One of the few. Now, someone is planning to start back up. Know who #1 target is. Me."

He turns around and starts walking away from Darkman again.

"If you want to help. Follow. There is information to be found. And wicked to be punished."

Darkman didn't have to think, why else would he be following this psychopath in the first place, he followed close behind.

"I have very little else to do, and I don't want to spent my days in a grimy hideout feeling sorry for myself, I'll help out."

 

[Byrd Man]

The usual noise that fills the Rumrunner's bar in Brooklyn dissapears quickly as the two masked figures walk into the bar.

"Oh, no." The barman, Happy Harry says.

"Oh, yes." Rorschach says as he commands attention of the whole bar.

"Police commissioner died. Someone here knows who did it."

Darkman hangs back while Rorschach walks through the bar, looking over the thugs and criminals.

"Hurm." He says as he stops in front of a bald-headed man.

"What?"

He grabs the man by the hand, a sickening pop is heard as his pinkie bends all the way back to the top of his hand.

"I just broke this man's finger. Someone here knows."

KRAK!

"Just broke his ring finger. Who knows?"

KRAK!

"Oh, god! Man, leave him alone. I'll tell ya." A fat man at the bar finally speaks up.

"Good. Speak."

"I heard it was the Foot!"

The vigilante's mask shapes into a look of shock as he lets the thugs broken fingers go.

"Let's go." Rorschach says to Darkman as they leave the bar.

"What was that all about?" Darkman growls as they leave the bar.

"That's how you make lemonade out of lemons. You squeeze. Foot Clan is back, someone Nite-Owl and I helped to bring down years ago...."

"Who?"

"The Shredder. Come. Have to meet Turtles in an hour."
​

 

[Carnage27]

My brothers and I sit on the roof of the Rumrunner Bar, waiting for the arrival of Rorschach and hopefully Nite Owl.

"So, when's the nut-job gonna get here?"

I give Raphael a look of disappointment, "Raphael, he is our ally, and he has been a great hero in the past. Show him some respect."

"Yea, whatever, oh great one."

"I think it'll be cool to work with someone Splinter did," Donnie says as he tinkers with a communicator he put together for Rorschach.

"Yea, bro, nothing like some old butt kicking," Mikey says while boxing an invisible opponent.

From the ledge over-looking the alley, I see Rorschach along with another man in a hat approach the meeting area.

"Let's go, they're here."

The four of us drop down near the other two as silent as a feather hitting a mattress.

"Nice to see you Rorschach. Who's your friend?"
​

 

[RGDurant]

"Darkman, nice to meet you"

He held out a bandaged claw out for the strange humanoid turtles to shake. He was not off put by the strange creatures, he been seeing weird things all the time, and this was New York afterall.

"I'm new to the city, and from what I hear, certain things have been happening and I thought I should get involved before trouble eventually winds up on my doorstep."

 

[wiegeabo]

Alaska is just what you'd expect.


"Holy crap it's cold!!!"

I stand there in a full parka and gloves, thick arctic pants, hood over my head, shivering. The wind feels like it's blowing through us as snow whips around.

"It's not that bad Chuck. It's all on your head."

I look at Sarah in disbelief and hold up my hand. "My g-glove is f-frozen!"

She looks at it for a second. "Ok, so it's mostly in your head. Just try to think warm thoughts."

Warm thoughts? Sarah and Casey start walking, and I try and follow. Warm thoughts? In this?! Noticing that they seem to be handling the weather much better than I am, I decide to give it a shot.

"Ok, ok. Warm th-thoughts..." I close my eyes. A beach. Yeah, that's good. A warm, sandy beach in the tropics. Oh, much better. The sound of the waves, the sun beating down. Nice. The sight of Sarah running towards me in slow motion-

"Oof!"

I walk right into Sarah as she stops, almost knocking her over. "Sorry! Sorry!" I say a bit too quickly, thoughts of a bikini clas Sarah still running in my brain. Another reason I'm glad I'm wearing thick arctic pants

A group of men and women stand between us and the hanger. For a second, I fear Fulcrum. But Casey and Sarah seem at ease.

"Major Casey. Agent Walker. Felix Leiter, CIA. Good to meet you both."

"Good to finally meet you too."

Felix shakes their hands, then looks at me.

"Um, this is agent...Carmichael. Charles Carmichael."

I stick my hand out and shake Felix's, shivering the whole time. "Chuck. Y-you can call me Chuck." I notice Sarah and Casey looking at me. "Or Charles. That's fine too."

"Chuck," Sarah says with a brief glare, "is our...analyst."

"Ah, we could use some intel," Felix says. "They kept this a need to know, and I think my team now needs to know now that we're here."

"We'll be sure to brief you as soon as we get to someplace more secure, and hopefully warmer."

Felix smiles. "Just follow us."

His team leads us towards what must be the airport's main terminal. Or...only terminal, I guess.

I decide to try and strike up a conversation to keep my mind of the cold. "S-So...Felix. What brings you up here." He raises an eyebrow at me. I nod my head to quickly as I speak. "I mean, I know why you're up here. O-orders and all that. But, um, I guess I'm trying to ask, um..."

"Why me?"

"Yeah, t-that's it," I say, utterly deflated and embarrassed.

"I was wondering that myself. Don't you normally liaison with MI-6?"

Felix's eyes go distant for a second and a little smile crawls on his face. "You could say that. I'm sort of a...specialist when it comes to dealing with one of their agents." And he just leaves it there.

Of course, I can't. "Oh yeah, which one?" I ask innocently.

"Need to know, Mr. Carmichael." We finally reach the terminal doors and they open. A blast of almost too warm air greets us and I feel like my face is melting. And, noticing the water dripping down it, I realize it actually is.

We all filter inside, and Leiter closes the door behind us. "We can talk freely now. My people secured this building when we arrived. So, tell me, why are we here?"

 

[wiegeabo]

Captain's Log. Stardate: 1313.1

My best friend is dead. The man I've known and trusted for over a decade, ever since the Academy, is gone.

And I killed him.

I walk down one of the corridor's of my ship. Crew members politely nod at me as they pass by, and I absently return the gesture. But my thoughts are light-years away.

On the planet I had to kill my best friend.

I had no choice. Gary was becoming too powerful. His humanity was gone. If I hadn't have stopped him...who knows what damage he could have wrecked throughout the galaxy. How else does one stop a mad god?

I step into my quarters, the doors automatically opening and closing for me. Rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes, I sit on my bed and lay back, hoping for some relief and peace in a few hours of sleep.

With Gary gone, I need to appoint a new first officer. And we'll probably need to return to Starbase for debriefing. Fleet doesn't take kindly to one of their officers killing another.

I keep reminding myself it wasn't murder. It was self-defense. How else do you stop a mad god?...

I close my eyes and let the subtle hum of the ship start to carry me away. i think I'll finally be able to get some rest.

The whistle of the comm tells me otherwise. "Spock to Captain Kirk."

I turn over and press the button on the console. "Kirk here." Mr. Spock. My science officer, and next in line to be my first officer. A man I hardly know or understand. I don't even know if I can trust someone who keeps their emotions bottled up, and yet, if a captain can't trust his first officer, then the mission is doomed to failure.

"Captain, you are needed on the bridge."

I sit up and crack my neck. "On my way. And have my yeoman meet me up there with coffee. Lots of coffee."

There's a brief pause on the other side. "Yes, sir," he says simply.

It's going to be an interesting five years...

 

[Byrd Man]

Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy
​

Space. The final frontier.

God, do I hate it.

The unknown, the mad aliens that roam the black. Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence, but it's my job to help people. I took that oath all those years ago, and I plan on keeping it.

"Alright, son. What's your problem?" I casually say the ensign sitting on my medical examination table.

"Well, Doctor...I have this strange burning sensation...." I nod as I keep writing down information on his chart.

"Okay. Where exactly do you feel this burning at?"

"Well, sir...it's uh....below the waist."

I stop with my notes and look the young man in the eyes.

"How long have you been having this feeling?"

"For about a week now."

"Yes, and we were at port two weeks ago. Did you happen to visit any women when we were at port?"

His face turns red, telling me all that I need to know.

"Well, then. I have some medicine here that can clean it right up."

"But, doctor. She wasn't a human, she was an Orion!"

I do a double take and smile at the young officer.

"Oh, well then. I'll have to prep you for surgery. The body fluids of Orion's contain acid highly damaging to all humans, your....member, could be rotten and have gangrene. I'm afraid it will have to come off."

"NO!" The ensign cries out.

"Joking.......go see the nurse in the next room, she'll give you a shot and fix you right up."

"Thank you, doctor!"

"No, problem. And son, remember this: flies spread disease....so keep your's closed."

He gratefully nods and heas to get his shot.

Finishing up my paperwork, I head towards the bridge.​

 

[Catman_prb]

He dreams of her sometimes.

"I felt your heart beat,"
"Buffy,"
"No! Oh god, it's not enough time!"
"Shh! Please, please,"
"No! I'll never forget. I'll never forget, I'll never forget, I'll never forget,"

The cold air forced his fringe back out of his eyes as the convertible rushes through the night. Wesley was sitting in the front, huddled up in a thick winter coat, whilst Gunn was in the back covered in a couple of blankets. Lorne and Fred had elected to stay at the Hyperion and 'manage any problems that came up at home'. Which meant that it was too cold for them up in Alaska.

"You sure you couldn't find the damn top for this car?" Gunn shouted from the back, over the sound of the wind.

"Hmm? Oh, no, I think that Inferdi demon roasted it a couple of months back," Angel shouted back.

"Right," Wesley said, sounding disheartened.

"So this vamp's waited until a month of darkness before attacking an entire town? That's pretty high-scale," Gunn said.

"Marlow's patient," Angel breathed "I met him once. We didn't get on,"

"Well I doubt that he'll be any happier to see you now," Wesley shouted.

"Do we really have to go to Alaska? Don't they have anything ready for something like this?"

"There are only two slayers, and one of them is currently on the run with no Watcher," Wesley said irritably. Gunn nodded, and grinned at the memory of Faith.

"Gunn, wipe the smirk off your face," Angel said through gritted teeth.

"That is a point though, Angel. This is quite an infamous event in the Watcher Calendar. There's a good chance that Buffy is already there or making her way there. Are you sure you're ready for that?" Wesley asked.

Angel nodded, a small smile flittering breifly on his lips.

"I'm counting on it,"

It's a bright day, and sun pours through the curtains onto the bed where the two lovers lay. Angel has one arm coiled around her waist, the other gently tucked under her head, wrapped in her golden locks. He quietly kisses her face until she wakes, screwing her face off and pushing him away. She wipes her face, pretending to be disgusted, but smirking happily.
"Honestly, it's like sleeping with a dog!"
Angel pouts, then pulls himself from the covers and rips the curtains over, bathing the room in golden light. The sunlight brightens his features and he grins at his lover.
"What do we have to do today?"
"Xander, Willow, Wesley and Fred are coming over tonight for dinner,"
"Oh," he says, sounding slightly dissapointed. Buffy grins and seems to conjour a tub with a brown lid from nowhere. It has 'Chocolate Ice Cream' written on it in bold letters.
"Until then, I was thinking we could have some fun with this,"

He dreams of her sometimes. Some days it isn't a nightmare.

 

[NiteMare Shape]

He sits atop one of the lonely structures of Barrow, watching the events unfolding around him. The residents of this town trying to move through the night without being seen, trying to hide from predators that were made to hunt at night. There was a time when he would be down there, leading a group of hungry vampires into a frenzy...a veritable orgy of blood. But those times are past. Even though part of him would relish the opportunity to hunt in this vampire paradise...he can't. It isn't his moral code that is stopping him, even though he has fought side by side with the Slayer, he did it more for the thrill of the violence, the thrill of the kill. Or is it?

For awhile now, he's been fighting the growing feelings he has for the girl. He tries to tell himself that it's only because they had been working so closely together. But he knows it isn't true. The truth is he's a bit of a
masochist, she treats him like dirt and he can't help but come back for more. He hates her, not only because she is the Slayer, but he hates her because of the way she makes him feel for her. The things he does for her attention, the stupid things he does to try and get her approval, knowing that no matter what he does, she won't be satisfied.

So he finds himself in Barrow, Alaska with Harmony. In fact, she's the reason that he's sitting up on this rooftop. He can't stand her at all, she's loud, annoying, and won't shut up. It's amazing how long someone can drone on and on when they don't require oxygen. If he didn't get away from her for a bit, he'd stake her himself. And that would be a shame, because there is one thing that she's good for...and only one thing.

He reaches into the pocket of his coat and produces a pack of smokes, taking one from the pack he puts it into his lips and with a flick of his silver zippo, takes in a long, relaxing drag of smoke. Before he is even able to inhale a second hit from his cigarette, the sounds of screaming rips through the night. He looks around for a moment as he locates the source of the ruckus and settles in to watch the excitement. He watches as a small group of vampires, about 4 in total surround a small girl...no more than 5 or 6 years old and her mother. Suddenly he almost feels sick to his stomach, he isn't sure what it is that compels him to do so, but he can't just let these vampires tear them apart...so he has to do something.


"Oh bugger." He says as he flicks away his cigarette and heads down to where the vampires are tormenting their prey.

 

[wiegeabo]

The turbolift ride up to the bridge seems longer than normal. Probably because I have so many things running around my mind. Like guilt, for one.

But the second those bridge doors open, it's like a wave of purpose washes over me. I feel more like Jim Kirk than I have in days. I nod to my command crew and take the center seat.

And then I see another crewman at navigation and think of Gary again. I wonder how long it will be before that doesn't happen. If ever.

I look at the replacement navigator. He looks young. Younger than anyone in his position has a right to be. Or maybe I'm just feeling old. "I'm sorry, Ensign," I say to him. "I don't seem to recall your name."

He seems to take no offense. "Chekov, sir. Pavel Chekov. I vas Commander Mitchell's relief officer."

"Ah, I see," I say with a nod. "Chekov. I'll remember that." The kid smiles a bit too proudly and turns back to his station. I make a mental note to review Chekov's file. Not everyone deserves primary shift duty. But if Gary thought he was good enough to be his backup...

I turn my seat to face my science officer. "Mr. Spock?"

"We received a signal from Fleet Command, Captain."

I turn to communications. "Lieutenant Uhura?" The turbolift doors open and I glance over as Bones steps onto the bridge. I give him a quick nod and return to the Lieutenant.

She glances her data pad. "Starfleet Command has acknowledged your initial report regarding the Galactic Barrier and Commander Mitchell. They await your final logs and have ordered us to Starbase 17 as soon as possible."

I nod. Just what I expected. "Very well. Send a reply. I've received their orders. They'll have my logs shortly, and we're plotting course to Starbase 17."

"Aye, sir."

I turn back to the front. "Ensign...Chekov..."

"Course plotted and laid in, Keptain."

I'm surprised. "...Very good, Ensign. Mr. Sulu, ahead warp factor 4."

"Aye, sir." There's a slight vibration as the ship goes superluminal and the stars and the screen seem to streak by. "Warp factor 4, sir. Estimated time of arrival, three point six days."

"Very good, Lieutenant."

 

[Catman_prb]

The car braked, the back wheels skidding slightly as it span to a stop in the parking lot. Angel hopped out of it followed shortly by Gunn and Wesley who were carrying a duffel bag in one hand and a crossbow in the other.

"Remind me again with we're walking into town?" Gunn asked, slinging the bag full of weapons over his shoulder.

"I don't want my car trashed," Angel said stoicly, swinging the great sword in a few arcs.

The trio walked into the dark town of Barrow warily, waiting for the numerous vampires to start crawling out of the woodwork.

"I expected there to be some kind of reaction by now," Wesley noted, his face contorting into a frown.

"I know Marlow. He'll wait and watch, see what we do when we see the first vampires. Get as much information on the opposition as possible," Angel said, resting his sword against the back of his neck.

His head pricked up as he heard sounds of shouting and screaming in the distance. Angel sprinted, the sword still held in one hand near the back of his neck. He instantly saw a group of vampires crowding around a family of three, the father standing protectively over his wife and child. He swung the sword in a great arc, using the momentum from his run. It connected with the vampire's neck, severing the head and instantly turning it do dust. He turned to look at the group briefly before the vampires struck again.

"Spike?!"